Key Words Sacred duty that Roman Catholics believe people have to do in order to worship God. A sacrament which involves blessing a person with holy

Transcription

1

2 Sacrament Baptism Confirmation Religious Experience Conversion Miracle Numinous Prayer Agnosticism Atheism Eucharist The Design Argument The Causation Argument The Big Bang Theory The theory of Evolution Free will Moral Evil Natural Evil Omni-benevolent Omnipotent Omniscient The Problem of Evil Christian Aid CAFOD Key Words Sacred duty that Roman Catholics believe people have to do in order to worship God. A sacrament which involves blessing a person with holy water in order to wel come them into the Christian community. Protestants and Catholics hold a ceremony for Christians who wish to confirm their faith in order to take Holy Communion. The person confirms their Christian beliefs. When a person or group of people experience God or gain a spiritual perspective on their lives. Religious conversion can be seen as an example of a religious ex perience, with the most famous Christian example being St Paul s conversion by the Holy Spirit on the road to Damascus. When you get your life changed by giving yourself to God Something that seems to break the laws of science and make you think that only an all-powerful being such as God could have done it. The feeling of a presence that is greater than you. An attempt to contact God, usually through words. The belief that it is possible for God to exist or believing that it is impossible to prove whether or not God exists. The belief that God does not exist. Common prayer that is part of most Church services The various theories that claim that the earth is too complex to exist by chance and that it must have a designer and that designer is God. The belief that everything has a cause and the cause of the existence of the earth is God. The scientific theory that the universe was created by an explosion of matter The scientific theory that all living things adapt and evolve in order to survive. Human beings are therefore an adaptation of earlier apes. The religious belief that God gave human beings the freedom to make their own conscious decisions about things and that no other living things can do this. Evil that is created by human beings, for example murder. Evil that is within nature such as an earthquake or a tsunami. Word used to described God as being all-loving, his loving is unconditional and equal for everyone. Word to describe God as all-powerful. There are no limits to His power Word to describe God as all-seeing and all-knowing in the past present and fu ture. The contradiction between having an omni-benevolent, omniscient and omnipo tent God, yet still having evil present in the world. Charity that brings food and aid to the developing world Roman Catholic charity that aims to help people in the developing world

3 Religious Upbringing The main features of a Christian upbringing Christian parents are likely to have their babies baptised as it is part of a sacrament. This process involves them making promises about belief in God and bringing their children up to belief in God. Parents may also teach their children to pray and to worship God. This may involve them sending their children to Sunday School to learn about the Christian faith. They may send their children to a Church school where they are taught in a Christian environment. Parents are likely to encourage their children to become confirmed as well. How a religious upbringing may support belief in God Most children tend to believe what their parents tell them and religious belief is likely to be reinforced in this way. Children may believe that God exists because they have been taught to pray to him, going to Church can have a similar effect. Sunday School or a Church School also supports belief because children learn about God and therefore may think that He exists. Being confirmed can also support a belief in God because it makes people carefully consider why they believe in God and encourages them to learn about the religion further. How a religious upbringing may cause someone to reject belief in God Children may feel resentment towards their parents for sending them to Sunday School or a Church School. They may not understand the purpose of worshipping God and if their friends do not do the same thing, they may feel separated and isolated, causing them to reject God. Learning about the religion further, may also cause them to feel that it does not explain how they feel about the world and about life.

4 Religious Experience The Numinous This is generally described as a feeling of the presence of God. When people are in a religious building or observing a beautiful sunset, they may feel that there is something that is greater than them at work in the world. It is often called an experience of something transcendent (beyond space and time). If people experience this, it can cause them to develop a belief in God. Albert Einstein said that he believed that there was a presence in the world greater than what we can see. Conversion This is when a person has an experience of God that causes them to change their beliefs and commit to God. It could be to change to another religion or to gain religious faith from agnosticism or atheism. It is sometimes called a regenerative experience because there is the sense that someone is born again. The most well-known conversion within Christianity is when St Paul was converted on the road to Damascus. He experienced God in the form of the Holy Spirit and this caused him to convert to Christianity. Miracles A miracle is an event that seems to break the laws of nature. Religious people believe that this is because of God s intervention in the world. Roman Catholics believe that a special site where a statue of the Virgin Mary stands at Lourdes has special healing powers. If a person cannot find a rational explanation for a miracle, it may give them cause to believe in God. Religious people believe that miracles mean that they are in direct contact with God. Prayer All religious believers think that they can contact God through prayer. These prayers can be individual or formal as part of a Church service such as the Eucharist prayer. If a person believes that God is listening to their prayers then they are likely to believe in God. This is especially true if they feel that their personal prayer has been answered. George W Bush believed that it was a connection with God through prayer that enabled him to become President.

5 The Argument from Design Evidence of design in the world Laws of science: The main reason why people believe that there must have been a designer that created the world is because they believe that the laws of science are too complex to exist by chance because everything works together. DNA: This is a nucleic acid which forms the material of all living organisms. The structure is like a blueprint for life and many people argue that this is evidence of design. Evolution: This is the process of the adaptation of life to maximise survival. Some people argue that this is evidence of design in the world. Beauty of nature: People may point to the beauty in nature, claiming that it is far too beautiful to have just existed by chance and that it must have been designed. William Paley Paley was a Christian who argued that God designed the world. He used a watch to illustrate this theory. He claimed that if you saw a watch lying on a pathway, you would not assume that it had just come into existence there, it is far too complex, look at the cogs and wheels. You assume that the watch has been designed by someone. Paley believed that the same can be said for the earth. It is far too complex and intricate to have come into existence by chance. It must have had a designer and Paley believed that designer was God. Arguments that support the theory of design Anything that has been designed needs a designer There is evidence of design in science such as DNA and evolution. The only possible designer for something so complex as the world is God. Therefore the appearance of design in the world proves that God exists. Arguments that do not support the theory of design The argument ignores the aspects of the world that don't show design such as volcanoes and earthquakes. John Stuart Mill criticised the design argument because he said that if God did design the world, he didn t do it well as there is still so much suffering and evil. Design can be explained by science such as the process of evolution. The argument only proves that the earth has a designer and this designer does not have to be God.

6 The Argument from Causation Evidence of causation in the world Causation is the process whereby one thing causes another. For example, putting pressure on a brake pad causes break fluid to move in a break cylinder which applies pressure to the wheels, which in turn stops the wheels from turning. Cause and effect is a feature of our world and science revolves around the concept of cause and effect. How the Causation Argument works If we look at things in the world, we see that they have a cause. For example, boiling water is caused by heat. Anything caused, must be caused to exist by something else because you cannot cause your own existence without already existing. The only possible cause of the Universe is God and therefore God must exist. You cannot keep going back with causes, because any cause must have a starting point. God does not need a cause, because He is outside of space and time. People who advocate the First Cause theory would call God the Unmoved Mover, meaning that He causes things, but is not Himself caused. Why some people support this argument It seems logical to consider that everything in the world has been caused by something, because you cannot get something from nothing. For religious believers, it provides them with a logical explanation for the existence of God. Why some people disagree with this argument Why should God be an Unmoved Mover? It may not be the case that the cause stops with God A better explanation would be that the Universe itself is eternal and therefore uncaused, without the need for God. Even if the First Cause existed, it does not need to be God, it could be any sort of creator.

7 Scientific explanations of the World and Agnosticism and Atheism Science and the creation of the world Matter is eternal and it can neither be created or destroyed, only changed (thermo-dynamics). 15 billion years ago, matter of the Universe became so compressed that it produced an explosion known as The Big Bang. As matter flew away from the explosion point, the forces of gravity and other laws of science joined some of the matter into stars and planets and about 5 billion years ago, the solar system was formed. The combination of gases on the earth s surface produced primitive life forms such as the amoeba. The genetic structure of these life forms changes (mutates). A change which makes the life better suited to the environment is likely to be maintain in the genetic make-up of that life. Over millions of years, new life forms were produced leading to vegetation, then invertebrate animals, then vertebrates and then about 2.5 million years ago, humans evolved. Evidence for The Big Bang The main evidence is called Red Shift. This is where light from the galaxies in the Universe appears to be moving outwards indicating that there was once an explosion which made this expansion occur. Evidence for Evolution The main evidence is through the collection of fossils and tracking the changes in DNA that have occurred over millions of years by studying fossils. Scientific alternatives to The Big Bang Scientists in America believe that our Universe collided with another one to create an explosion, rather than matter being compressed and exploding as a result. How the scientific explanations may lead to atheism or agnosticism Science can explain where the world and human beings came from without reference to God. This may mean that some people are unsure as to whether to believe in God or not, making them agnostic. For others God us no longer valid, making them atheists. How religion responds to scientific explanations Response 1 Scientific explanations are true and prove the existence of God. The Big Bang had to occur exactly to the micro second to create the Universe and this would not have happened without God. God made the scientific laws that govern the Universe. Life on earth could not have occurred by chance as it is too complex and so God caused life on earth to exist, by bonding atoms with carbon and water molecules. Response 2 Science is wrong and the Bible is right. They believe that evolution does not occur, but changes in rock formations and fossils can be explained by the great flood in the time of Noah. They also claim that the Apparent Age Theory leads people to think that things are older than they actually are, such as carbon dating trees or human life. This view is often called Creationism. Response 3 Some people believe that both science and the Bible are correct. They claim that the main points of the Bible fit with science. In the Bible it says that God created the world in 6 days, but one of God s days could amount to millions of years. They claim that the quote let there be light (Genesis), is a direct reference to The Big Bang. Evolution occurs, because the Bible describes God creating individual species.

8 Unanswered Prayers, Agnosticism and Atheism Not feeling God s presence when praying Prayer can be seen as an attempt to contact God. Religious people claim that when they pray, they think that God is listening to their prayers. However, other people say their prayers, but never feel the presence of God. This is likely to make them feel that something is wrong: either they are not praying correctly, or God is not listening to them. This could lead them to question whether or not God exists. If they are unsure, this leads to agnosticism, but if they become convinced that they are not being listened to because God does not exist, this means they are atheist. Prayers not being answered Christians believe that God is their loving heavenly father who will answer their prayers. In some Churches, Christians share stories of how God answers prayers. Roman Catholics also pray to patron saints to help them, for example St Jude is the patron saint for those who have no other hope. If a person prays and their prayer is not answered, they may begin to question why God answers some people s prayers and not others. If prayers continue to be unanswered, particularly if the person is praying for good things, then they may start to question whether God exists causing them to be agnostic, or they may become convinced that he does not, causing them to be atheist. Religious responses to unanswered prayers Selfish prayers go unanswered and some people only pray for selfish reasons Prayers that are about a certain person may be unanswered, because God has different plans for that person Parents do not always give their children what they ask for, in the same way, that God does not always give people everything they ask for. People should trust God s love, even if they do not understand His motives. Having faith in God means following His will unreservedly and without question. This is something that Jesus taught Christians.

9 The Problem of Evil and Suffering Moral Evil This is evil caused by human beings misusing their free will and inflicting suffering on others and themselves. War is a good example of moral evil, as it causes large amounts of suffering and could have been avoided if human beings had chosen to act differently. There are some examples which are less clear such as famine, where humans may have made wrong choices, but have done so unintentionally. Christians believe that moral evil in sin because it involves going against the teachings in the Decalogue. Natural Evil This is suffering that does not have a human cause for example earthquakes and floods. The Problem of Evil Christians believe that God is: Omnipotent all-powerful, there are no limits to God s power and He can therefore do anything Omniscient all-seeing/knowing, God knows everything that has happened, is happening and will happen Omnibenevolent all-loving, God s love is unconditional and there are no limits to the love that God has for human beings. If God is omnibenevolent, then he does not want people to suffer because he loves them. If God is omniscient, he knows when people are suffering and will suffer and if He is omnipotent, he has the power to stop suffering. Yet evil and suffering still exist in the world. This means: God is not omniscient God is not omnipotent God is malevolent (unloving) These 3 characteristics are not accepted by Christians as characteristics of God. For some people, the problem of evil is so convincing, that it means that they are unsure of whether God exists, making them agnostic, or they are convinced that He does not, making them atheist. Christian responses to the Problem of Evil Response 1 The New Testament teaches Christians that suffering is something that should be fought against; Jesus healed the sick and cared for the poor. They believe that they should try to follow the example of Jesus in removing evil and suffering from the world. This is why many Christians pray for those who suffer through intercessionary prayers. They may also help those who suffer by working in certain professions such as medicine or for a charity. Some charities such as CAFOD and Christian Aid have been set up with this in mind. Response 2 Evil and suffering is caused by human beings and not by God, we were given free will so we could choose how to behave. However, this does not explain natural evil in the same way as it does moral evil. Response 3 God has plans for all human beings and if they suffer in life, they will be rewarded in Heaven. This is something that Jesus taught his followers. However, this does not explain why an omnibenevolent God would allow people to experience any suffering. Response 4 We cannot understand the will of God, but we should trust the will of God. If suffering occurs, there is a reason for it. However, why would God want people to blindly obey if He gave them free will. Response 5 We are suffering because of the Original Sin that Adam and Eve committed. Why would an omnibenevolent and forgiving God go on to punish all of mankind for this. Also, Jesus died to save mankind from their sins. Response 6 Suffering is a test of life that brings people closer together and strengthens their belief in God. This is something that author C.S Lewis acknowledged when his wife died.

10 The God Delusion Debate influences on religious belief Summary of the program This is a televised debate between well-known scientist Richard Dawkins and Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University, John Lennox. Dawkins is an atheist and Lennox is a Christian. They debate a number of issues about belief in God. The debate focuses on the issues that Dawkins raises in his best-seller The God Delusion. These issues include: the plausibility of a Christian God, the origins of the universe, the origins of morality and the relevance of religion in a scientific age. Lennox consistently argues from a liberal religious perspective claiming that religion and science do not conflict and he accepts all the major scientific theories such as evolution and The Big Bang. Lennox claims that religion encourages scientific enquiry and helps us to make sense of our moral world in the same way as science helps us to make sense of our physical world. Dawkins on the other hand, consistently argues from the atheist perspective claiming that the concept of God is implausible and unnecessary. He states that religion seeks to give a simplistic explanation to what we don t understand and becomes less relevant as we make new scientific discoveries. Parts of the programme that encourage belief in God The arguments that Lennox puts forward might encourage a person to believe in God and this could occur when: Lennox makes the point that there are many religious scientists and simply accepting science does not mean that you have to reject religion. This could mean that people who think that science offers convincing explanations about the world might feel that they can still believe in God and this could strengthen their religious conviction Lennox says that religion provides a background for how we ought to behave in moral terms and science does not do this. Morality is very important to people and underpins the decisions they chose to make about certain issues such as whether or not abortion is acceptable. Since science does not give people any guidance on this and religion does, it may cause them to believe in God. Lennox claims that science does not hold all the answers and that things that were previously considered to be scientific fact, have now been dismissed. He suggests that religion may contain answers about the world that we cannot get from science. This could encourage someone to believe in God if they do not think that science gives them all the answers to the questions that they have. Lennox claims that religious belief gives a person a sense of meaning and purpose to their lives and that the actions that they chose to take will not just affect them in this life, but in the next as well. This could encourage someone to believe in God because having a sense of purpose to your life can be very comforting. Parts of the programme that might have encouraged people not to believe in God The arguments put forward by Dawkins could encourage a person not to believe in God and these occur when: Dawkins claims that religion is totally implausible and uses the example of Jesus to illustrate this. He claims that to have a human being as the Son of God who can die to save people from their sins does not make sense. If a person thinks that this is illogical, then what Dawkins says could encourage them not to believe in God. Dawkins claims that religion prevents people from thinking intelligently and rationally about things and encourages them to put their faith in things that do not exist. He claims that this can be very damaging for society. If someone feels that religion requires people to blindly follow a set of rules or stories, what Dawkins says could encourage them not to believe in God Dawkins states that science is based on evidence and the things around us that we can see, yet religion relies upon things that have no verifiable evidence. In life, we often only trust something if we have seen it ourselves and this could therefore encourage a person not to believe in God. Dawkins states that we do not need to be religious to understand morality and he explains that most atheists are perfectly moral people. He states that the need for religion is redundant in modern society. If people accept that an atheist can be moral without referring to religion, then what Dawkins says may encourage them not to believe in God. You need to be clear on how the programme influenced your views about God. Did it strengthen your belief in God or your atheism or did it make you reconsider? You need to be able to justify your opinions with reasons.

11 Bruce Almighty influences on religious belief Summary of the program This is a film where Bruce, the main character meets God and gets the chance to take on God s responsibilities for a time. At first Bruce seeks to use his newfound powers to benefit his own interests, such as gaining credibility as a news reporter and improving his relationship with his girlfriend. As time goes on however, he realises that he cannot keep satisfying his own interests and that with power comes great responsibility such as listening to and answering prayers. Bruce s initial selfishness means that his life with his girlfriend falls apart and despite his efforts to control her emotions, he cannot get her back. God explains to Bruce that this is because he cannot influence free will. It is only when Bruce begins to take on the responsibilities of being God that his life takes a meaningful turn. Parts of the programme that encourage belief in God God encourages Bruce to search for some meaning in his life when things have gone wrong for him with the responsibilities of God. It is only when Bruce begins to act selflessly that he gains an inner happiness. This could encourage belief in God because people could feel that virtuous feelings are at the heart of religious belief such as caring for others and this is what brings inner peace and happiness. When Bruce makes the mistakes of answering yes to everyone s prayers, it creates chaos. This could explain to some people why they do not get everything that they always pray for as this is neither realistic nor good for humanity. This could in turn encourage their belief in God because they think that He acts in a balanced and fair way. God tells Bruce that He gave people free will and that their minds cannot be made up for them. This might explain for some people why we have the freedom to make conscious decisions and could encourage them to believe that it is God behind this ability that exists. At the end of the film, God brings Bruce back to life and some people may describe this as a miracle. Sometimes things occur that cannot be explained by the laws of science and people might think that God causing a miracle to occur is why this happens. This could encourage them to believe in God. Parts of the programme that might have encouraged people not to believe in God People watching the film may decide that God does not exist because they would question how an all-powerful being could not influence free will. Bruce tries to influence his girlfriend s emotions and fails. People might claim that if God can walk on water, as He does in the film, why can he not influence how a person feels. The film portrays the many responsibilities of God such as answering prayers. For some people, this aspect of the film might encourage them not to believe in God because they think that it is impossible for one being to carry out all of these responsibilities. At one point in the film, Bruce has a conversation with God about constantly having a certain level of responsibility and how does he cope with it all. Bruce asks God if he has ever taken a break from his responsibilities and God replies Remember the Dark Ages?. This might encourage a person not to believe in God because they might question why an omnibenevolent God would take a break from his responsibilities. They might link this to the existence of evil in the world and claim that this means that there can be no omnibenevolent God. When Bruce gives people everything they ask for in their prayers, chaos erupts. This may encourage people not to believe in God because they might think that if God existed and was allpowerful, He would have come up with a way of giving everyone what they want without causing chaos, rather than saying no to some people s prayers. You need to be clear on how the programme influenced your views about God. Did it strengthen your belief in God or your atheism or did it make you reconsider? You need to be able to justify your opinions with reasons.

12 Model Exam Answers A) What is atheism? [2] Atheism is the belief that God does not exist. Richard Dawkins is an atheist and claims that we do not need God now that we have a better understanding of science. B) Do you think that God is the cause of the universe? [4] No I do not think that God is the cause of the universe. This is because I do not believe that scientific theories such as the Big Bang and evolution require a belief in God to occur. I believe that they happen for scientific not divine reasons. Also, if God created the universe, why did he create an imperfect universe that has evil and suffering in it? An omnibenevolent God would not want this and so it seems unlikely that God created the universe. C) Explain how a religious person might account for the existence of evil in the world. [8] The existence of evil in the world causes a problem for some religious people because they believe that God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnibenevolent. This means that He does not want evil to occur because He loves people and doesn t want them to suffer, He knows that evil is occurring because he is omniscient and He has the power to stop it because He is omnipotent, yet there is still evil in the world. Religious people account for the existence of evil in a number of ways. For some people, the existence of evil encourages people to fight against it and for what is good. This is what is taught in the New Testament and many Christians use the example of Jesus as a healer to highlight this point. For other religious people, evil and suffering is something that is caused by human beings and not by God. Yet this does not fully explain natural evil that human beings do not create. For others, a more convincing explanation is that God has plans for us and we may not understand what these are, but they all have meaning. It says in the Bible: Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart (Jeremiah). Some religious people believe that suffering is a necessary part of life because it brings people closer together and can strengthen their belief in God. This is what C.S Lewis the author of the Chronicles of Narnia said when his wife passed away. D) Considering the evidence, everyone should be an agnostic i) Do you agree? [3] ii) Explain why others may disagree with you? [3] i) I do not agree with this statement because I am an atheist not an agnostic. I think that science, The Big Bang, DNA and Evolution provide compelling evidence that God does not exist and that He is not the creator of the universe or humanity. If God existed, surely he would have created only one religious scripture for people to follow, yet there are many religious scriptures that people cannot decide between. Also, if God existed, why would He have created a world with evil in it. This does not fit with the scripture on God as being omnibenevolent, omniscient and omnipotent. ii) Some people may disagree with me because they may claim that there are arguments that can be used both for and against the existence of God and therefore whether or not He exists is unclear. The Design Argument can be used to support a belief in God, yet scientific arguments and criticisms of the Design Argument can be used against believing in God. In the same way, The First Cause Argument is used to prove the existence of God, but then critics ask what caused God if this was the case. The Problem of Evil is, for some people proof that God does not exist, yet other religious people account for the existence of evil in various ways and claim that it is not evidence for God not existing. For some people then, the evidence either way is unclear and caus es them to neither fully accept or reject belief in God, making them agnostic.

13 Model Exam Answers if you get questions on TV programmes you watched B) Do you think that programmes about religion can affect your belief in God? Give two reasons for your point of view. [4] Yes I do think that programmes can affect a person s belief in God. I think this because, the media is a constant presence in everyone s lives and many people use it as their chief source of information about the world and this means that if they watch a programme on TV or listen to a radio show, it could influence their perspective on an issue. I also think that certain programmes can work in a subliminal way and could impact on a person s beliefs without them necessarily realising it. This is particularly the case if they are watching the programme for another reason such as watching the Vicar of Dibley because it s a comedy, rather than expecting it to impact on their beliefs about God. C) Choose one programme about religion and explain how it might affect someone s belief in God. [8] * answering about The God Delusion Debate The programme that I have chosen to analyse is a televised debate between Richard Dawkins, a prominent atheist and John Lennox a profession of Mathematics at Oxford and a liberal Christian. The pair debate the main issues relating to the plausibility of the belief in God, religion and science, the role of religion within morality and whether we need religion in modern society. The debate could encourage someone to believe in God because Lennox says that religion provides a background for how we ought to behave in moral terms and science does not do this. Morality is very important to people and underpins the decisions they chose to make about certain issues such as whether or not abortion is acceptable. Since science does not give people any guidance on this and religion does, it may cause them to believe in God. It could also encourage someone to believe in God because Lennox claims that religious belief gives a person a sense of meaning and purpose to their lives and that the actions that they chose to take will not just affect them in this life, but in the next as well. This could encourage someone to believe in God because having a sense of purpose to your life can be very comforting. However, it may also encourage people not to believe in God because Dawkins claims that religion is totally implausible and uses the example of Jesus to illustrate this. He claims that to have a human being as the Son of God who can die to save people from their sins does not make sense. If a person thinks that this is illogical, then what Dawkins says could encourage them not to believe in God. It could also encourage someone not to believe in God because Dawkins states that science is based on evidence and the things around us that we can see, yet religion relies upon things that have no verifiable evidence. In life, we often only trust something if we have seen it ourselves and this could therefore encourage a person not to believe in God. * answering about Bruce Almighty The programme that I have chosen to analyse is the film Bruce Almighty, which is about a person who obtains the powers of God and his struggle to take on the responsibility that this entails. This programme could encourage a person to believe in God because God encourages Bruce to search for some meaning in his life when things have gone wrong for him with the responsibilities of God. It is only when Bruce begins to act selflessly that he gains an inner happiness. This could encourage belief in God because people could feel that virtuous feelings are at the heart of religious belief such as caring for others and this is what brings inner peace and happiness. It may also encourage someone to believe in God because God tells Bruce that He gave people free will and that their minds cannot be made up for them. This might explain for some people why we have the freedom to make conscious decisions and could encourage them to believe that it is God behind this ability that exists. However, the film could encourage some people not to believe in God because The film portrays the many responsibilities of God such as answering prayers. For some people, this aspect of the film might encourage them not to believe in God because they think that it is impossible for one being to carry out all of these responsibilities. Also, when Bruce gives people everything they ask for in their prayers, chaos erupts. This may encourage people not to believe in God because they might think that if God existed and was all-powerful, He would have come up with a way of giving everyone what they want without causing chaos, rather than saying no to some people s prayers. D) Religious programmes encourage you to believe in God i) Do you agree? [3] ii) Explain why others may disagree with you [3] i) I disagree with this statement because I think that it depends upon the nature of the programme as to whether it encourages belief or not. Some programmes that portray belief in God in a positive light, such as in Bruce Almighty, when God is shown to be fair and loving, by listening to everyone s prayers, could encourage belief in God. However, in other programmes, where God and religion are portrayed negatively, it could have the opposite effect such as in The God Delusion Debate, Dawkins explains why the concept of God is a redundant one in the 21st Century. How it impacts on a person s beliefs is down to the individual s interpretation of the programme. For example, if they were watching The God Delusion Debate, and were a theist, their beliefs may be strengthened by Lennox s comments and similarly if they were an atheist, their beliefs may be strengthened by Dawkins s comments. ii) Others may disagree with me, because they may claim that programmes which portray religion will naturally portray them in a positive light because religion is a positive thing. They may point to the main message of religion as being to Love they neighbour as thyself and claim that this can be nothing but positive. They might also claim that if a person chooses to watch a religious programme, then they are themselves likely to be religious, otherwise they would not watch it. This means that it will strengthen their belief in God.

14 Immortality of the soul Paranormal Resurrection Gospels John the Divine Protestant Orthodox Pentecostal Mass The Parable of the Good Samaritan Thirteen Principles of Faith Halakhah Yom Kippur Kosher Shema Shiva Near-death experience Reincarnation Abortion Sanctity of life Law of Double Effect Assisted suicide Euthanasia Non-voluntary euthanasia Voluntary euthanasia Quality of life The media Purgatory Medium Key Words The idea that the soul lives on after the death of the body Unexplained things which are thought to have spiritual causes The belief that after death, the body stays in the grave until the end of the world when it is raised New Testament teachings of Jesus An important religious teacher Denomination of Christianity also know as Church of England and Anglican Denomination of Christianity found mainly in Russia and Greece Denomination of Christianity Holy Communion Parable told by Jesus to illustrate that we have a responsibility to care for others regardless of whether they are strangers, friends, family or enemy Principles of Judaism (Jewish Creed) that all Jews believe they should live by Religious teachings for Orthodox Jews Jewish festival of atonement, when they seek forgiveness of their sins and often fast. Means allowed, the things that are allowed in the Kashrut laws. These laws cover all aspects of living Prayer said before a person dies Week-long period of grief When someone about to die, has an out-of-body experience Being re-born as someone or something else. The removal of a foetus from the womb before it can survive The religious belief that human life is holy, because it is created in the image of God and should therefore be treated with the utmost respect Only time that Roman Catholics believe that abortion is acceptable. If the mother will die if the pregnancy continues, for example if it is an ectopic pregnancy, then she can have an operation to save her life and abort the foetus as this is the lesser of two evils Providing a terminally ill person with the means to commit suicide The painless killing of someone dying from a terminal illness Ending someone s life painlessly, when they are unable to ask, but you have good reason for thinking they would want this Ending a life painlessly, when a person with a terminal illness asks for death The idea that life must have some benefits for it to be worth living All forms of mass communication such as TV, newspapers and the internet Roman Catholic belief that people with unforgiven sins go to Purgatory which is between heaven and hell and they have to be prayed for to move from Purgatory to heaven. The month that Catholics pray for souls in Pur gatory is November A person who believes that they can contact the spirits of dead people

15 Christian beliefs about life after death Why Christians believe in life after death All four gospels teach Christians that Jesus rose from the dead and therefore there must be life after death St Paul teaches Christians that they too can have a resurrection like Jesus did John the Divine teaches that at the end of the world the dead will be raised and brought before God for judgement. Good Christians will enter heaven and everyone else will go to hell. Jesus taught of his second coming on Judgement Day The major creeds of the Christian churches teach that there is life after death. All denominations of Christianity teach life after death. Protestants, Pentecostal, Catholic and Orthodox churches do have slight differences between them, but they all share and teach the premise of life after death. Many Christians believe that people are made up of their physical bodies and their spiritual soul. The body dies, but the soul is eternal and continues to exist after the body has gone. Life after death gives many Christians a mean and purpose to this life and is why they work hard to be good in this life. Some Christians believe in life after death because of the evidence of the paranormal. How Christian beliefs in life after death affect behaviour Christians believe that what happens to them after they die is affected by how they behave in this life. They will try to be good in order to get to heaven when they die. Living a good Christian life means following the teachings of Jesus who taught that the greatest commandment was to Love thy neighbour as thyself (Matthew). Not only should Christians treat people with respect, but part of leading a good life is to worship God. For Christians this could mean going to Church on a Sunday and for Roman Catholic Christians, it could mean going to Mass. In the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats Jesus taught his followers that they will be judged according to how they behave in life in terms of helping those less fortunate than themselves. This is similar to the message that Jesus preaching in the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Some Christians believe that they have a duty to care for those less fortunate and volunteer for Christian charities such as CAFOD and Christian Aid. Some Christians think that if a person sins, it may prevent them from being able to go to heaven. Others believe that people can sin and seek forgiveness and they will still go to heaven. The Catholic Church teaches that those who die with unforgiven sins will go to Purgatory to be purified before they can reach heaven. Christians believe that life after death gives their lives meaning and purpose. This could be the reason that Christians are less likely to suffer with depression.

16 Jewish beliefs about life after death Why Jewish people believe in life after death It is taught in the Tenakh. Jews believe that the first five books of the Tenakh are the direct word of God and therefore express truth. It is also taught in the Talmud and is often the topic of discussions amongst Rabbis. It is one of the Thirteen Principles of Faith in the Jewish Daily Prayer book Many Jews believe in life after death because it gives their lives a sense of meaning and purpose. If they are good in this life, they will be rewarded in the afterlife. It also gives people a sense of justice to think that if we behave badly in this life, there are eternal consequences. Some Jews believe in life after death because of the evidence of the paranormal How Jewish beliefs about life after death affects behaviour The main teaching within Judaism about life after death is resurrection. Based on the Torah, the Tenakh and the Thirteen Principles of Faith, God will end this world when He decides to do so. He will then create a new world and resurrect the dead. God will decide what happens to people on the basis of how they have lived their lives. Life after death is considered to be true life and is why Jewish cemeteries are known as houses of life. This is why Jewish people aim to be good in this life. Living a good life, means observing the Torah and the halakhah for Orthodox Jews. This means they will pray 3 times a day and fast on Yom Kippur and observe the laws of Shabbat. It also means following the Mitzvot which states that Jewish people should keep Kosher, observe dress laws and not lend or receive interest. Orthodox Jews believe that they should make a final confession and recite the Shema before they die. They also have a duty to grieve for loved ones and this is known as shiva. Jews believe that life after death gives their life a purpose and could be why Jews are less likely to suffer with depression. I believe with perfect faith there will be resurrection of the dead (Thirteen Principles of Faith no. 13) In the last days the mountain of the Lord s temple will be established as chief among the mountains (Isaiah)

17 Non-religious reasons for believing and not believing in life after death Near-death experiences This is a fairly recent phenomenon and happens when a person is clinically dead and is brought back to life. Whilst they were dead, they claim that they had an out-of body experience. Dr Sam Parnia found that of the patients who had suffered heart attacks at Southampton General Hospital, 4 out of 63 of them had a near-death experience. Frequent experiences include: feelings of peace and joy, feelings of floating above the body, seeing a bright light, entering another world, meeting with dead relatives and coming to a point of no return. For some people, near-death experiences provide them with evidence that there must be life after death. Evidence of a spirit world Ghosts and Ouija boards appear to give evidence of spirits and souls surviving death. Evidence also comes from mediums. They are also known as psychics, clairvoyants or spiritual guides. Mediums exist in all countries and in all religions. However, the media has publicised mediums more recently in TV programs such as Street Psychic and Crossing Over with John Edward. Most mediums claim that the founders of the world faiths were in touch with the spirit world and that religions point to the spirit world rather than having absolute truth. People may claim that mediums are evidence for life after death because know things that only living relatives know about the dead. Evidence of reincarnation Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs believe that life after death involves being reborn into another living thing. There are many stories within these religions and within India of reincarnation. Some non-religious people also believe in reincarnation, claiming that people have memories of past lives which can be gained by speaking to a medium or hypnotherapist. In religious beliefs, it is not thought that a person can remember their past life. Why some people do not believe in life after death If there is no God then there is nothing non-material and so all we are is our physical bodies. This means that death is the end of our existence Different religions have different ideas about life after death and therefore if it were true, they would not have these different theories. The evidence for life after death is based on either holy books, which are not relevant to an atheist, or paranormal events which have been criticised by scientists. Scientific evidence makes it clear that the mind cannot survive without the body, meaning that there is no way that a soul can exist once a body is dead We can only recognise people from their bodies, so how would we recognise their souls without their bodies? If souls survive death, they would be alone with no means to contact other souls. Some people have been brought up not to believe in life after death.

18 The Nature of Abortion United Kingdom and law on abortion The 1967 Abortion Act states that an abortion can be carried out if two doctors agree that: The mother s life is at risk There is a risk of injury to the mother s physical or mental health Another existing child s physical or mental health could be put at risk There is a substantial risk that the child may be born with a severe mental or physical disability The 1900 Act states that abortions cannot take places after 24 weeks of pregnancy, unless the mother s life is at risk, or the foetus is likely to have severe mental or physical disabilities. Why abortion is a controversial issue Many religions and anti-abortion groups believe that life begins at the moment of conception when the egg and sperm combine. Any act that destroys this life from that point on is therefore considered to be equivalent to murder. Other people believe that a baby cannot be considered as a separate life until it can exist outside of the mother and abortion cannot be considered as murder. Some groups of people believe that a woman should always have a right to choose abortion and to force her to have a child she does not want is immoral. Some people believe that the rights of a foetus supersede the rights of the mother and father and that unless the mother s life is in danger, the pregnancy should go ahead. Some people argue that because a child could be viable from 22 weeks, that the limit for abortion should be lowered to weeks. Some people claim that medical staff should not carry out abortions if it is against their conscience and other people say that an abortion is a medical procedure just like any other.

19 Christian beliefs about Abortion Roman Catholic and Evangelical Protestant views These Christians believe that abortion is morally wrong and equivalent to murder. They believe this because: They think that life begins at the moment of conception. Human life is holy according to the principle of the sanctity of life and any action that ends life is as a result completely wrong. It states in the Bible that human beings are made in the image of God (Genesis). This means that humans are created with God-like qualities and their lives should be treated as sacred from the moment of conception. It states in the Bible: Thou shalt not kill (Exodus). Roman Catholics and Evangelical Protestants are very concerned that abortions can lead to emotional trauma in women and feelings of guilt that they cannot get over. They think that every human including unborn children have a right to life. Roman Catholics were so concerned with the issue of abortion that they forbid it in their doctrine: You shall not kill by abortion the fruit of the womb (Didachtes). Roman Catholics and Evangelical Protestants believe that adoption is a suitable alternative to abortion. They claim that in cases of rape, one sin does not provoke another and so abortion cannot be justified by rape. They claim that it would not solve the emotional trauma of being raped anyway. The only exception for Roman Catholics and Evangelical Protestants is in the case of the law of double effect: this is when the mother needs an operation to save her life that will as a result, cause the foetus to be killed, for example, if she has cancer and need chemotherapy. In this case, abortion is not the intended outcome, but to save the life of the mother and so it is acceptable for the foetus to die. Liberal Protestant views These Christians believe that whilst abortion is an evil, it is sometimes unavoidable and should not be banned. They believe this because: It is not right to put the mother s mental and physical health at risk for the sake of the unborn foetus It could have an extremely negative impact on the rest of the family Jesus taught Christians to: Love thy neighbour as thyself (Matthew) meaning that forbidding an abortion and making a woman miserable or putting her at risk is not treating her with love. The principle of the sanctity of life also applies to the dignity of the life of the mother. She should have a right not to be miserable by being forced to have a child that she does not want and therefore, the sanctity of her life is more important than that of her unborn child. Life does not begin at conception and so abortion is not murder. The sanctity of life can be broken by other events such as war, so why is abortion an exception? Christians should accept developments in medicine such as now doctors can test for Downs Syndrome. This means that a woman can have more of an informed choice about whether to continue with the pregnancy or not. Christians are concerned with justice and some feel that if abortions were banned, rich people would pay for abortions in another country and poor women would have to get backstreet abortions. This is not an ideal situation for society or the welfare of women. Some Evangelical Protestants are beginning to change the focus of the abortion debate. The Red Letter Christians think that the focus should be on helping women who want abortions, not getting abortions banned and that contraception should be made cheaper and more readily available and increasing wages and childcare help for single mothers.

20 Jewish beliefs about abortion Jewish people have different views on abortion: Some Jews believe that abortion can never be allowed: They believe that life begins at conception and so any act to end life from this point on is immoral and equivalent to murder. The Torah teaches Jews: Thou shalt not kill (Exodus) and so abortion is immoral Jews believe that human life is sacred because all humans are made in the image of God (Genesis) Only God has the right to take life away it states in the Torah: There is no God besides me. I put to death and I bring to life (Deuteronomy). Abortion is wrong unless the mother s life is at risk: The Torah permits killing in self-defence and if the foetus is threatening the mother s life then abortion can be considered as an act of self-defence. It is the lesser of two evils. Abortion should be allowed in accordance with the law in the UK: Life does not begin until the foetus can survive on its own because of the teachings in the Torah The Torah states that Jews must prevent avoidable suffering which is what the abortion law in the UK tries to do. They also believe in the self-defence argument for abortion.

21 The nature of euthanasia What euthanasia is Euthanasia is normally thought of as providing a gentle and easy death for someone who is suffering a terminal illness and has little quality of life. This can be done through: assisted suicide, voluntary and non-voluntary euthanasia. British law states that assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia are illegal and can be counted as murder. However, a person has the right to refuse medication and the next of kin can allow a life support machine to be switched off and these are legal forms of euthanasia. These two are known as passive euthanasia. Why euthanasia is a controversial issue There is always likely to be doubt as to whether it is what the person wants There is also the problem of whether the disease is always terminal The role of doctors according to the hypocratic oath is to save lives not to end them People might change their mind about wanting euthanasia Who would decide to allow the euthanasia to take place and what safeguards would there be? Advances in medicine have led to many people being kept alive who would have previously have died and so euthanasia should now be allowed. The development of life support machines has already brought in a form of legal euthanasia and it is claimed that the NHS cannot afford to keep people alive, so if they wish to die, they should be able to. Many people feel that it is a basic human right to control when you want to die if you are given that choice.

22 Christian beliefs about euthanasia Roman Catholics and Liberal Protestants All forms of euthanasia are wrong, however modern medicine has introduced new issues and switching off a life support machine cannot be considered as euthanasia Keeping a person alive through extraordinary means is not necessary. The Catechism of the Catholic Church permits this. The law of double effect: means that if a person needs painkillers to stop their pain at a dosage high enough in which it will kill them, then this is acceptable as the primary aim is to prevent pain and a bi product of this is death. They believe this because of the principle of the sanctity of life which includes ensuring a person lives with dignity and without suffering. Voluntary euthanasia is wrong because it states in the Bible that God gives life and God takes life away. People should not have this power. Euthanasia can be considered as murder because it states in the 10 commandments: Thou shalt not kill (Exodus). Other Christians Some Christians believe that any form of euthanasia is wrong and this include switching off life support machines. Biblical teachings state that suicide is a sin and these Christians consider euthanasia as a form of suicide and so it is immoral. Murder is a sin as it states in the 10 commandments: Thou shalt not kill (Exodus). Human beings do not have a right to end life, only God has this right. They believe in the sanctity of life and claim that because God creates life it should be considered as holy and should not be ended. Some Christians accepted limited euthanasia Living wills can be used which state how a person wishes to be treated if they develop a terminal illness. Modern medicine means that we can no longer be sure about God s wishes. Jesus taught people to Love thy neighbour (Matthew) and this means honouring their wishes including if they would like to die If a person is suffering, they should be able to choose to end their lives as they no longer have a quality of life. This is seen as a basic human right. The Hospice Movement The Hospice Movement was set up by a Christian called Dame Cicely Saunders. She was a Christian and considered people s comfort and dignity when they had a terminal illness to be very important. Hospices aim to provide a personal care for people with a terminal illness, so they do not have to live out the rest of their days in a hospital as this can lack dignity. Patients are given pain killers to ensure that their last days are comfortable. Although originally Christian organisations, hospices today provide care for anyone regardless of background and this includes counselling for families once they have lost their relative.

23 Jewish beliefs about euthanasia Some Jews are against euthanasia in any form at all The Torah states that suicide is wrong and will be punished by God. If suicide is wrong, then assisted suicide is also wrong Voluntary euthanasia is also the same as suicide Jewish people believe in the sanctity of life and so taking life away is forbidden in the 10 commandments as it states: Thou shalt not kill (Exodus). The Tenakh and the Talmud say that only God has the right to take life away: The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away (Job). People should not seek to put themselves on a par with God. Some Jews believe that switching off life support and not giving someone extraordinary treatment is not euthanasia Some rabbis claim that life support machines can be switched off if this is what the doctor believes should happen If someone is brain-dead then God has already taken their life. Striving to keep someone alive and preventing God from taking their soul is wrong.

24 The Media and matters of life and death What the media is The media is forms of mass communication. Religion makes many statements in the media about matters of life and death such as abortion, euthanasia and genetic engineering. Some people believe that the media should not be free to criticise what religion says about these issues and other people believe that it should be. Arguments that freedom of the media should be restricted Criticising what religions say about issues of life and death is a way of stirring up religious hatred. Inciting religious hatred has been banned by the Racial and Religious Hatred Act of The Roman Catholic Church decided to withdraw its support of Amnesty International when they claimed that the right to choose and abortion was a human right for women who had been raped. Criticism of religious attitudes can cause serious offense to believers. This happened when a Danish newspaper published pictures of the Prophet Muhammad. Some people claim that criticising what religious leaders say about matters of life and death such as what the Pope says is a form of blasphemy. The last case of blasphemy in the UK was in Some religious people claim that what God says is beyond human criticism. Arguments that the media should be free to criticise All democratic societies believe in freedom of expression and it is Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. In a democracy people should be able to make informed decisions about issues and they cannot do this is the media has been too restricted. Religious people can also use the media to criticise the government and this has happened in the past with issues such as stem cell research. Life and death issues are so important that people need to be able to establish the truth on these matters and they cannot do this if the media is not allowed to criticise people. Sir Karl Popper argued that freedom of expression is essential for societies to make progress and that it is not coincidental that the most advanced societies have the most freedom of expression.

25 Model Exam Answers A) What is non-voluntary euthanasia? [2] Non-voluntary euthanasia is ending someone s life painlessly when they are unable to ask, but you have good reason for thinking that this is what they would want. For example, switching off a life support machine. B) Do you agree with abortion? [4] Yes I do agree with abortion because I do not think that life begins at conception, but only when the child can survive outside of the mother, so abortions before 24 weeks are acceptable. I also believe that forcing a woman to have a child that she does not want is against her human rights, every woman should have the right to choose. Banning abortions would also cause problems in society such as deaths and infections from backstreet abortions. C) Choose one religion other than Christianity and explain why most of its followers are against euthanasia. [8] Jewish people on the whole believe that euthanasia is wrong. They think this for a number of reasons. The Torah states that suicide is wrong and that it is punished by God, if suicide is wrong, then assisted suicide is also considered to be wrong. It states in the 10 commandments: Thou shalt not kill (Exodus) and Jewish people believe this is a direct command from God and should be obeyed. Euthanasia can be seen by some Jewish people to be breaking this commandment. Jewish people believe that human beings are made in the image of God (Genesis) and as a result, our lives are sacred and should not be ended, since euthanasia ends life, it is going against this principle. The Tenakh and the Talmud state that only God has the right to take life away: The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away (Deuteronomy). Allowing people to commit euthanasia is like putting them on a par with God and this is considered to be taking rights that do not belong to them, only God. D) Your soul will never die i) Do you agree? [3] ii) Explain why others may disagree with you? [3] i) I disagree, I don t see how the soul can exist without a brain. The evidence within science is that the human mind grew more complex as the brain developed and so the mind cannot exist without the brain and therefore the soul too cannot exist on its own. Also, where would our souls go when we die? Scientific evidence of the universe suggests that Heaven and Hell do not exist and paranormal activity in the form of spirits can also be disproven. There is simply no evidence that souls exist after death. ii) Religious people such as Christians might disagree with me because they consider that life after death is plausible. This is because they believe that Jesus rose from the dead. It is also part of the creed of Christianity that human beings will have everlasting life. Jesus told the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats to indicate that God decides what happens to people s souls when they die. St Paul taught people that people will have a resurrection like that of Jesus on Judgement Day. Indeed, all of the Gospels teach that our souls are eternal.

26 Civil partnership Cohabitation Nuclear family Re-constituted family Divorce Homosexuality Re-marriage Adultery Faithfulness Pre-marital sex Procreation Promiscuity Covenant Sacrament Annulment Bet Din Get Baptism/dedication Brit Milah Contraception Abortifacients Natural contraception method Kiddushin Ketubah Key Words A legal ceremony that gives homosexual couples the same rights as heterosexual married couples in the UK. Living together without being married. Seen as the traditional family unit with a mother and father living with the children. Also known as a step family, where a divorce has occurred and a couple re-marry creating step parents and step children. The legal ending of a marriage, allowing the persons involved to remarry if they wish to. Sexual attraction to the same sex Marrying again after being divorced from a previous marriage A sexual act between a married person and someone other than their married partner. Staying with your marriage partner and having sex with only them. Sex before marriage Creating a new life Having sex with a number of partners without commitment. Agreement with God Roman Catholic term for a sacred duty, of which marriage is one. Roman Catholic term for when a marriage is made void (like it nev er happened). It is granted by a Bishop, is not the same as divorce and is relatively rare. It is usually granted if deception has occurred, meaning that the marriage was not a true one in the first place. Jewish Court Jewish marriage contract Welcoming a person into the family of Christ Ceremony that takes place at birth to welcome a child to Judaism. Methods that intentionally prevent pregnancy from occurring. Methods of contraception that destroy an embryo (fertilised egg). Roman Catholics are against forms of contraception such as the morning after pill because it does this. They think this because they believe that life begins at conception. The only method of contraception that is considered acceptable in all religions and cultures. It involves a woman familiarising herself with her menstrual cycle and refraining from having sex when she is fertile. Roman Catholics advocate this method for married cou ples. With the use of digital fertility kits, this method is more relia ble than it used to be, but less reliable than other methods of con traception. Jewish word for marriage Jewish marriage contract

27 Changing attitudes to Marriage and Family Life How attitudes have changed in the UK It used to be the case that it was expected that the first time a person would have sex was when they were married. This was the widely held view in the UK until the 1960s. Now, most couples will have had sex before they are married and it has become acceptable for couples to cohabit live together without being married. People also get married older than they used to, the average age for men is 31 and for women is 29. Only a minority of marriages take place in a Church today (34%) compared with 60% in Divorce has also become far more acceptable and people are no longer looked down on for having a divorce. Different types of family units are now also becoming more common; it used to be the nuclear family, but reconstituted families are increasingly common. Single-parent families are also becoming more common. Couples are also deciding to have children without being married and in the past, this was not acceptable. Homosexuality was made legal in 1967 and since then, it has become far more acceptable to be gay. Society now treats homosexual couples in the same way as heterosexual couples. In 2004 Civil Partnerships were made legal, meaning that homosexual couples could have the same rights as a heterosexual married couple according to UK law. Reasons for changes Cohabitation and marriage The increased availability of contraception Christianity does not have as much influence in the UK today as it once did Increased media coverage of cohabiting celebrities makes it more acceptable Sexual relationships outside of marriage being portrayed as the norm in the media Divorce 1969, divorce was made easier and cheaper in the UK Expectations of what marriage should be like have changed greatly. Before equal rights legislation, married women were dependent on their husbands for income. An increased independence led to an increase in divorce rates. Demographic changes people live for longer and there has been a change in how long people are likely to be married for. 100 years ago, men could expect to have more than one wife, because so many women died in childbirth. The average length of a marriage 100 years ago was 10 years and this is similar now because of divorce rates. Family life An increased instance of cohabitation means that there are now more families with un-married parents Increase in divorce has led to an increase in re-marriage, which means there are now more reconstituted families. The extended family is more popular as mothers continue to work and use retired grandparents to look after their children. Increase in divorce has led to an increase in single-parent families. Homosexuality: Changes in the law have made it easier to be openly homosexual and society has become more accepting of homosexuality. Medical research has shown that homosexuality is probably genetic and is not a choice. Gay celebrities are more open about their sexuality. Stonewall and other gay rights organisations have worked hard to change society s attitudes towards homosexuality.

28 The Importance of Marriage within Christianity Marriage is extremely important for Christians: But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and become united with his wife and the two will become one flesh. (Mark 10). Traditionally marriage was seen as important as a way to avoid sin through sexual relationships outside of marriage. Marriage should only take place if it was not possible for people to live celibate lives. The Marriage Ceremony The Preface In the presence of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we have come together to witness the marriage of [man s name] and [woman s name], to pray for God s blessing on them, to share their joy and to celebrate their love. Marriage is a gift of god in creation through which husband and wife may know the grace of God. It is given that as man and woman grow together in love and trust, they shall be united with one another in heart, body and mind, as Christ is united with his bride, the Church. Marriage is a way of life made holy by God. Marriage is a sign of unity and loyalty, which all should uphold and honour. It enriches society and strengthens community. No one should enter into it lightly or selfishly, but reverently and responsibly in the sigh of almighty God. The Vows The vows you are about to take are to be made in the presence of God who is judge of all and knows all the secrets of our hearts; therefore if either of you knows a reason why you may not lawfully marry, you must declare it now. The minister says: [name] will you take [name] to be your wife/ husband? Will you love her/him, comfort her/him, honour and protect her/him and, forsaking all others, be faithful to her/him as long as you both shall live? The Priest then explains the importance of marriage: Jesus attended a marriage at Cana and performed his first miracle there. The other reasons that marriage is considered to be very important by Christians are: it is a gift from God as he intended man and woman to live together, men and women should help support one another and be faithful and marriage is appropriate for bringing up children. The vows are usually now the same for men and women, although in the past this has not been the case; women were asked whether they would obey and serve their husbands and this was not applicable the other way around. The Exchanging of Rings [name] I give you this ring as a sign of our marriage. With my body I honour you, all that I am I give to you, and all that we are I share with you, within the Love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Declarations I, [name] take you [name] to be my wife/husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part; according to God s Holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow In the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches, marriage is regarded as a sacrament. This is not the same in the Anglican Church. According to the Roman Catholic Church, there are 7 sacraments: baptism, confirmation, marriage, ordination, reconciliation, anointing of the sick and the eucharist. It is because marriage is a sacrament that divorce is forbidden in the Roman Catholic Church and also the Orthodox Church. In the Roman Catholic Church, the marriage is followed by a special service and the fact that the couple have freely chosen to marry one another is stressed. If one of the parties was forced into marriage, then this is grounds for an annulment (when the marriage is made void, like it never happened). An annulment has to be applied for by one of the people within the marriage. It is awarded if deception has occurred, if the marriage was under duress, or if either of the persons entering into it was not able to make an informed decision. If an annulment is awarded, then the couple are free to marry again. Annulment is not usually granted and for this reason, the Priest checks that the couple has the right intention by asking: And so in the presence of the Church, I ask you to state your intentions: are you ready freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage? Are you ready to love and honour each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives? Are you ready to accept children lovingly from God, and bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church? (Missal).

29 The Importance of Marriage within Judaism The tradition of Marriage within Judaism Marriage (kiddushin) is very important in Judaism because family and the home are thought to be great blessings. A man without a woman is doomed to an existence without joy, without blessing, without experiencing life s true goodness, without Torah, without protection and without peace. (Talmud). The importance of marriage is emphasised in the Torah: A man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24) According to the Midrash (a collection of various Rabbinic commentaries) this is because: God created the first human being half male, half female. He then separated the two parts to form a man and a woman. The ceremony The Jewish wedding ceremony is very short. The man makes a vow to the woman about the consecration of marriage. A Jewish marriage takes place under a canopy (called a chupah), which represents the home that the new couple will share. It is not a sturdy structure, but a flexible one to represent how the couple will need to adapt to maintain a successful marriage and how it is not material things that are important, but the love they share. As part of the marriage the groom signs a contract (called a Ketubah) that contains his promises to his wife. Jewish marriages usually take place in a synagogue with friends and family. The Rabbi conducts the service and in the UK, Rabbis are also registrars (as are vicars and priests) so the marriage becomes legal once the ceremony is complete. There is also a tradition of the groom smashing a wine glass that is wrapped in cloth. This symbolises that although marriages are joyous occasions, married couples will face difficult times together in their marriage. The importance of marriage Jewish people are expected to have families and marriage is considered the appropriate way within which to do this. It is expected that Jewish people should get married and it is an essential teaching within Judaism. Jewish people believe that they are honouring God and His creation by marrying. For some Jews, it is the only acceptable situation where a sexual relationship can occur.

30 Christian and Jewish attitudes towards Sex outside of Marriage Christian attitudes Christianity teaches that sex should only take place between two people who are married and therefore, most Christians believe that sex before marriage is morally wrong. Some Christians believe that this attitude is outdated and would accept that as long as the couple are in a committed relationship, then they can embark on a sexual relationship. Christians who believe that sex before marriage is wrong, do so for a number of reasons: Christianity teaches that sex was given to humans by God for procreation and that children should be brought up within a family, therefore within a married relationship. Go forth and fill the earth, be fruitful and increase (Genesis). The Bible states that fornication and promiscuity are sinful and Christians should follow the teachings of the Bible The Catechism of the Catholic Church claims that pre-marital sex is wrong: The sexual act must always take place exclusively within marriage. Christians are taught to honour their bodies as a gift from God; your body is a temple (Corinthians). This is why many Christians choose not to have sex until they get married. In America and Britain, some Christian teenagers have taken a pledge that they will save themselves until marriage. They wear a silver purity ring on their wedding finger to symbolise the commitment they have made to this cause. All Christians believe that adultery is wrong. This is because it states Thou shalt not commit adultery (Exodus) in the 10 Commandments and also because Jesus taught his followers that it was a sin. Christians therefore believe that it is essential that a married couple remain faithful to one another. Jewish attitudes Judaism teaches that sex should take place within a married relationship and therefore sex before marriage is considered by most Jewish people to be morally wrong. Some Jewish people known as progressive Jews believe that this attitude is outdated and claim that as long as the couple are in a committed relationship, they should be allowed to have sex. The Jewish people that believe that sex before marriage is wrong, do so for a number of reasons: Fornication is forbidden in the Torah and Jewish people believe that they should follow the Torah. The Talmud says that sex should only take place within a marriage and because the Talmud is the authorised teaching of the Mitzvot (Jewish law), Jews believe that they should follow this teaching. The Torah commands people: You shall be Holy (Leviticus) and states that this means that sexual relationships should only be those that are permitted (within marriage). All Jewish people are against adultery. This is because Jews are taught Thou shalt not commit adultery (Exodus) in the 10 Commandments. Adultery breaks the Ketubah (marriage contract) and Jews also believe that it is wrong because it can harm the family unit, which is considered to be of primary importance within Judaism.

31 Christian and Jewish attitudes towards Divorce and Re-Marriage Christian attitudes The Roman Catholic Church The Roman Catholic Church does not allow divorce or re-marriage. If a person gets divorced, this would not be accepted by the Church and they would not be allowed to re-marry in a Catholic Church. They believe this for a number of reasons: Marriage is considered a sacrament (sacred duty) taken in the presence of God and therefore cannot be broken: What God has joined together, let not man separate (Mark) Jesus taught that divorce is wrong: Whoever divorces someone and marries another, commits adultery (Mark) The couple made a covenant with God that cannot be broken. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that divorce and re-marriage are wrong: The marriage bond has been established by God...and can never be dissolved Roman Catholics do allow a married couple to live separately, but they are not allowed to have another sexual relationship. This tends to be the advice given if abuse has taken place within the marriage and if an annulment is not applicable. In rare circumstances, a married couple can seek an annulment. This is when the marriage is made void, like it did not take place and is different from a divorce which is the legal ending of a marriage. Bishops sometimes grant an annulment when deception has occurred meaning that the marriage is not a true Christian marriage, for example, if it took place when either of the couple was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Roman Catholics believe that a couple should seek counselling if their marriage is not working and this is why they support the work of the Relate counselling service. Non-Catholic Churches such as the Anglican and Methodist Churches These Churches think that divorce is wrong but allow it as a last resort if the marriage has broken down. Most of the Churches allow divorced people to re-marry, but require them to speak to a minister or vicar before doing so. They allow divorce for a number of reasons: Jesus allowed divorce in Matthew s Gospel in the case of adultery In some circumstances, divorce can be seen as the lesser of two evils: it is better to divorce that live with hatred and resentment. Christians believe they should forgive and part of this is to allow people to have a new start. This means that divorce and re-marriage can be seen as a new start. Jewish attitudes Some Jews believe divorce is wrong because The Talmud teaches that divorce causes offense to God: If a man divorces...even the altar at the Temple sheds tears. Divorce can bring harm to the family unit, particularly to the children. Orthodox Jews Divorce should be initiated by the husband and he must apply for a divorce document (Get) from the Bet Din (Jewish Court). Women cannot re-marry without a Get. The Torah does have statements that permit divorce: If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him...he writes her a certificate of divorce (Deuteronomy). Marriage is a contract that can be broken in certain circumstances Reform Jews Either a man or a woman can apply for a divorce and usually, they are not required to apply for a Get, although some Synagogues will still specify that one is needed. They believe that the Torah is not the direct word of God and is open to interpretation for modern living. They believe that men and women should have equal rights and this is why they allow female Rabbis. They think that in some circumstances, Jewish people must choose the lesser of two evils and that it is better to get divorced than to live with hatred and resentment.

32 The Importance of Family Life within Christianity and Judaism Christian attitudes towards family life One of the main purposes of a Christian marriage is to start a family and family life is therefore considered to be very important. Christians are taught that the family was created by God as a unit within society and the only appropriate place in which children can be brought up. Without the family, society would collapse. Catholics believe that divorce is wrong because it breaks up the family unit. It is the family that teaches the children the difference between right and wrong, so without family units, there would be much more evil in the world. The family is the place where children are introduced to Christianity through a Baptism or dedication and then where they are taught how to worship God. The only exception is when there is a conflict between family and devoting oneself to God and is why priests, monks and nuns choose to follow the teachings of God without the distraction of having a family. The family is the original cell of social life. (Catechism of the Catholic Church) Honour they mother and father. (Exodus) Jewish attitudes towards family life Family is very important for Jewish people because they believe that the family was created by God as the basic unit of society. Jewish people think that the family is where children should be brought up in a family unit. Jews believe that it is a religious duty to get married and to have children. This means that family is the way in which Jewish people ensure the continuation of their religion. Judaism is passed on at birth and only the children of married Jewish parents are considered to be automatically Jewish (in Orthodox Judaism). Judaism teaches that it is the family that teaches children the difference between right and wrong and so without the family unit, there would be a lot more evil in the world. In Judaism, the family is the place where children are welcomed into the Jewish faith through ceremonies such as the Brit Milah and being taught how to worship God in the Synagogue and at home. Honour they mother and father. (Exodus)

33 Christian and Jewish Attitudes towards Homosexuality Christian attitudes It is important not to generalise Christian attitudes towards homosexuality. Some Christians accept it and some do not. All Christians follow the law of the UK and believe that discrimination against gay people is wrong. All Christians accept that homosexuality is not a choice. The Roman Catholic Attitude Towards Homosexuality People do not have a choice as to their sexuality and therefore simply being homosexual is not a sin. Roman Catholics believe that acting on homosexual feelings is a sin and for this reason they ask gay people to refrain from sexual relationships of any kind - they should remain celibate. The Roman Catholic Church condemns homophobia. Roman Catholics believe that acting on homosexual urges is a sin because they interpret the Bible as being critical of homosexual relationships. It teaches that sex should take place between a man and a woman who are married. It is not possible for homosexuals to procreate as it is taught in the Bible: Go forth and fill the earth, be fruitful and increase (Genesis). The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that homosexuality is wrong. The Evangelical Protestant Attitude: Homosexuality caused great controversy within the Anglican Churches, some accept it and some do not. Evangelical Protestants believe that homosexuality is a sin and that people should be offered help in order to overcome their homosexual urges. They hold prayer meetings to ask for the Holy Spirit to change a person s sexual orientation. They believe that the Bible is the direct word of God and because it is not condoned in the Bible, it is forbidden. They believe that the salvation of Christ can remove all sin including homosexuality. Evangelical Christians believe that homophobia is wrong and that all Churches should accept homosexual people who are trying to change their orientation. The Liberal Protestant Attitude: Homosexuality is not a sin as long as a homosexual relationship is a life-long, monogamous and loving commitment. Homosexuals are therefore welcomed into the Liberal Protestant Churches. Liberal Protestants do not accept homosexual relationships as being equal to marriage though. Vicars and Ministers can be homosexual, but they are asked to refrain from having a sexual relationship. Some Liberal Protestant Churches provide a blessing for homosexual couples. They accept homosexual relationships because they believe that the teachings of the Bible need to be interpreted for modern times, Christianity is about tolerance and acceptance and this should be extended to homosexuality. They also think that if homosexuality is not a choice, then it has been created by God and cannot be wrong. If Christians do not treat homosexual people with respect, it encourages dishonesty and discrimination. Jewish attitudes Orthodox Judaism: Believe that people do not have a choice about whether or not to be homosexual and therefore, sexual orientation in itself is not wrong. Acting on it, is considered sinful by Orthodox Jews. They think this because the Torah states that sexual relationships should take place between a man and a woman who are married. Judaism teaches that the primary aim of sex is for procreation and this is not possible within a homosexual relationship. It is a mitzvot that Jewish people should marry and start a family. All Orthodox Jews believe that they must fulfil this requirement and so homosexual relationships are wrong. Liberal and Reform Judaism: Believe that people do not have a choice about their sexual orientation and that homosexuality is not a sin in any form. There have been homosexual Rabbis within Liberal/Reform Judaism. They still however think that heterosexual marriage is the ideal. Liberal/Reform Judaism accepts homosexual relationships, providing they are loving, longterm and monogamous because they believe that the Torah need to be interpreted for the modern world, sexual orientation is likely to be genetic and is therefore God given so cannot be wrong and claiming that homosexuality is wrong can lead to homophobia which is completely unacceptable.

34 Christian Attitudes towards Contraception Throughout history people have tried to control the number of children they have for the health of women, to share resources effectively and to provide a better standard of living. Condoms where developed in the 19th Century and the 1950s saw the invention of the contraceptive pill which is now the most common form of contraception. Since the latter part of the 20th Century, the use of condoms have been encouraged to stop the spread of STIs such as HIV/AIDS. Roman Catholic attitudes The Roman Catholic Church has always advocated responsible parenthood. The Church teaches that sexual intercourse is a gift from God for married couples to enjoy. Roman Catholics believe that controlling the size of the family can only be achieved through natural birth control (when a woman calculates her menstrual cycle to work out when she is fertile and refrain from sex at these times). It is far easier today with the invention of digital fertility monitoring kits, but it is not as reliable as other methods of contraception. There are a number of teachings that support the Roman Catholic view: Go forth and fill the earth, be fruitful and increase. (Genesis). Contraception goes against this teaching. The Catechism of the Catholic Church condemns the use of contraception and in 1968 Pope Pious VI stated that the natural method of birth control was the only acceptable method in the Humanae Vitae. Roman Catholics are taught that life begins at conception and therefore some forms of contraception are considered abortifacients (such as the morning after pill) and so are considered as morally wrong because they are ending life. The Roman Catholic Church considers contraception as encouraging sexual promiscuity which is forbidden in the Bible. This is why they are particularly critical of the contraceptive pill. The Pope recently stated that condoms were permissible in areas of the developing world such as Africa, where HIVAIDs is rife, as it is considered to be the lesser of two evils. Non Catholic Christians Most non-catholic Christians believe that contraception can be used to limit the size of a family, but not simply to stop having children altogether. They think this because Christianity teaches people to Love thy neighbour (Matthew) meaning that they support the use of contraception where needed, because smaller families increase the standard of living and also the health of women as childbirth can still be incredibly dangerous in certain parts of the world. God created sex for enjoyment to cement the bond of marriage. Contraception allows for sex to be about enjoyment. There are no Biblical teachings that forbid the use of contraception. In a conference in 1930, the Church of England claimed that using contraception to limit family size was legitimate and other Churches such as the Orthodox Church followed suit. Non-Catholic Christians believe that it is better to use contraception than it is to allow the spread of HIV/AIDS in certain parts of the world.

35 Jewish Attitudes towards Contraception Jewish people have different attitudes towards contraception which cannot be generalised. Ultra Orthodox Jews Do not approve of any type of artificial contraception unless the mother s health is at risk. Ultra Orthodox Jews are expected to discuss contraception with their Doctor or Rabbi. They have these views because: God commanded people to populate the earth: Go forth and fill the earth, be fruitful and increase (Genesis). Contraception stops them from fulfilling this. This is why Ultra Orthodox families tend to be large. The Torah makes it clear that male sperm is sacred and must not be killed. Many Rabbis teach that God created sex primarily for procreation. Orthodox Jews Allow women to use artificial contraception as long as they are married and have at least two children, or if the mother s health is at risk. They have these views because: The Torah, Talmud and Rabbis teach that the health of the mother should come first and so contraceptives can be used for this purpose. Contraceptives for women do not kill a man s sperm and so are not against the Torah It is a mitzvot to have a family, but not to have more than two children and so contraception can legitimately be used to limit the size of a family. Use of contraception to prevent the spread of STIs would need to be discussed with the Rabbi. Liberal/Reform Jews Believe that contraception is a personal choice and people should have the right to make their own decisions about the contraception that they use. They have these views because: God expects people to use their intelligence and medical technology to prevent unwanted things from happening. They think that the Torah s teaching on male sperm needs to be updated. Men and women are equal and contraception should be available to either. Ideally all Jewish people should be married, but it is better to use contraception than it is to have unwanted children in the world.

36 Model Exam Answers A) What is a reconstituted family? [2] Where two sets of children become one family to create step brothers and sisters and step parents. This usually occurs because the parents have got a divorce and re-married. B) Do you think that contraception should be used? [4] Yes I do think that contraception should be used. I think this because it promotes the welfare of women and society; smaller families cost less and are less of a drain on resources and in some parts of the world, childbirth can lead to a high female mortality rate. I also think this because people should have the right to choose to use contraception, because they have a right over their own bodies. C) Choose one religion other than Christianity and explain why family is important to that religion. [8] Jewish people believe that family life is incredibly important because Judaism teaches that the family was created by God as the basic unit for society and is the only place where children should be brought up. According to the mitzvot, it is a duty to have a family and so family life is an essential part of Judaism. Judaism is considered to be passed on at birth by married Jewish parents and so family is important for the continuation of the Jewish people. The family is also the place where Jewish children learn right from wrong and teaches them to have respect for their elders: Honour thy mother and father (Exodus). The family is also the place where Jewish children are introduced to the faith, usually through a ceremony such as the Brit Milah. The Torah teaches that family life is essential to being Jewish. D) A religious ceremony helps to make a marriage work i) Do you agree? [3] ii) Explain why others may disagree with you? [3] i) I disagree with this statement. I disagree because I think that people who choose to get married are showing their commitment to one another and this is special, regardless of whether the ceremony is religious or not. The statement suggests that atheists and people who choose not to get married in a religious ceremony are less likely to have marriages that work and this is simply not the case; it has far more to do with the individual couple. If a person believes in God, then a religious ceremony will mean something to them, but if they are not, it won t and so individual belief often dictates the success of marriage as well, rather than the nature of the ceremony. II) Religious people such as Christians and Jews may disagree with me. Christians believe that marriage is sanctified by God and that if people make vows in the presence of God, they are joined together become one flesh (Mark) and are therefore less likely to separate than if they had a non-religious ceremony. Christians also believe that marriage is an essential part of life and if they have a religious ceremony that reflects this belief, it may remind them of the commitment they have made and honour and thus it could be more likely to work. Similarly for Jewish people, marriage is a mitzvot and so they may think that once they have made this religious commitment, they have a duty not to break it, so the marriage could be more likely to work for this reason.

37 Key Words Sexism Discrimination Ethnic Minority Multi-ethnic Society Prejudice Racism Community Cohesion Multi-faith Society Racial Harmony Religious Freedom Interfaith Marriage Religious Pluralism Discriminating against someone on the basis of their gender Treating people less favourably because of a prejudice A member of an ethnic group (sometimes race) which is smaller than the majority Many different races and cultures living together in one society Believing that some people are inferior or superior without know ing them The belief that some ethnic groups and races are superior or inferi or to others A common vision and shared sense of belonging for all groups in society Many different religions living together in one society Different ethnic groups living together peacefully The right to practise your religion and change your religion without interference from the state Marriage where the husband and wife are from different religions Accepting all religions as having an equal right to co-exist

38 Changing attitudes to the role of men and women in the UK How attitudes have changed in the UK In the past, women were often seen as the property of their fathers and then their husbands. When they got married, they were not entitled to their own wealth and only had the right to use their husband s wealth as he saw fit. It also used to be expected that women would marry and would then stay at home to manage the home and raise the children. The UK has witnessed a strong history of women s rights and this began with the Married Women s Property Act 1882 which allowed women to keep their property as separate from their husband s property. In 1892 the Local Government Act gave women the right to stand as councillors and in 1928 women were given equal voting rights to men and could become MPs. Equal rights in employment came with the Equal Pay Act This meant that women and men had to be paid the same for doing the same job. By 1975 the Sex Discrimination Act made it illegal to discriminate on the grounds of gender. Despite these changes, attitudes in society were slower to change. In % of people agreed that men should work and women should stay at home. In 2008, 17% of people felt this way. However, in 68% of households, the woman does most of the housework. Also, there is still currently a 12.6% pay gap between men and women. Why attitudes have changed During the First and Second World Wars, women had to do jobs that had previously been done by the men and it was felt that women ought to be rewarded for the work they had done during the war years. Women s rights were developing in other countries and the UK felt that it had to follow this. Women were successful as councillors, particularly in areas of health and social care developments and therefore it was felt that women should be recognised for this contribution. The suffragette movement also contributed to an increase in women s rights as did the UN Declaration of Human Rights. The Labour Government in the 1970s were committed to improving women s rights and brought in the Equal Pay Act and the Sex Discrimination Act to do this.

39 Different Christian and Jewish attitudes to equal rights for women in religion Different Christian attitudes Traditional attitudes of Protestant Christianity Men and women should have different roles and so cannot do everything in the same way. It is the role of women to bring up the children in the home Women can go to Church but should not take an active role in its organisation or services. They have these views because: - St Paul taught that women should remain silent in Churches - St Paul refers to the creation of Adam and Eve, explaining that Adam was created first and Eve was there fore subordinate to Adam. - Jesus s 12 apostles were all men - It is a tradition that men lead the Church Modern attitudes of Protestant Christianity Men and women should have equal rights and can have equal roles Women can be ministers within the Church. God created male and female as being equally important in Genesis There is evidence in the Gospels that Jesus treated men and women equally. He treated a Samaritan woman as his equal and he also preached at the Court of Women in Jerusalem. Catholic attitudes to men and women in religion Men and women should have equal rights and roles within society, however their roles within the Church are different. They believe this because: - in Genesis it states that men and women were created as equal - It is the teaching of the Catholic Catechism that men and women are equal - Only men can be Priests because Jesus s disciples were all men - Only men can be Priests because Jesus was a man and the Priest represents Jesus during the Mass Different Jewish attitudes The Orthodox attitude Men and women have different roles and so cannot be treated the same within religion. It is the woman s job to keep a Kosher home and raise the family. It is the role of the men to provide for the family and to take an active part in the Synagogue. Only men can be leaders of the Jewish faith and Rabbis. They believe this because: - It is the teaching in the Torah and the Talmud that men should be Rabbis - The mitzvot only apply to men - They believe that separate roles are a way to develop a life which is in accordance with the will of God - Women cannot be witnesses in a Bet Din and so cannot contribute the Jewish law. The Liberal/Reform attitude Men and women should be considered to be completely equal within religion and women can be leaders of the Jewish faith and Rabbis. They believe this because: - In Genesis, it says that God created men and wom en as equals - The teachings in the Torah and the Talmud are open to interpretations - God sees men and women as equal and does not favour one gender and so people should not favour one gender - Judaism should relate to attitudes in the modern world and the changing attitudes towards rights

40 The United Kingdom as a Multi-Ethnic Society The United Kingdom has always been mixed and in some ways we are a nation with a rich heritage of immigration. The Celts, Danes, Romans, Saxons, Jutes, Vikings and Normans are all ancestors of the British. Britain has always believed in freedom and has granted asylum to people fleeing persecution in their own country such as the Russian Jews in the 19th Century and the European Jews in the 20th Century. In the 19th Century, Britain became an empire and in exchange for ruling over countries, citizens of the Empire had the right to settle in the United Kingdom. Slaves who set foot on British soil were immediately free. The Empire became known as the Commonwealth and all the nations of the Commonwealth gained their independence in People were invited to the UK from the Commonwealth in the 1950s and 1970s from countries such as India, Pakistan and Kenya in order to fill a serious labour shortage in the UK at the time. Despite this, the overwhelming majority of UK citizens are white. Below are the figures from the 2001 Census: Ethnicity Percentage of Population White British 92.1% Asian British 3.9% Black British 2.0% Chinese British 0.4% Others 0.4% Immigration from the Commonwealth has continued, but not as much as in the 20th Century. Instead now, most immigration is as a result of the creation of the European Union. Most immigrants come to the UK from Ireland and from parts of Eastern Europe. The problems of discrimination and racism Racism is a type of prejudice that causes major problems in a multi-ethnic society because of the discrimination that happens as a result of it.. There are many examples in multi-ethnic societies: Racially prejudice employers will not give jobs to people of certain ethnicities and races Prejudiced landlords can refuse accommodation to people Ethnic minorities can be excluded from schools and other public places. Sometimes the police can be institutionally racist. The effects of discrimination and racism Certain groups within society can feel alienated It can cause people to turn to crime It can cause people to become extremists It can lead to the rise of organisations such as the BNP which stir up hatred against minorities The benefits of living in a multi-ethnic society Reduces the chances of war, because people are used to living with difference More progress will be made because people will bring new ideas and a variety of ideas Life is more interesting with variety Tolerance and respect are valued and people tend to enjoy greater freedoms and rights as a result of this

41 The Government action to promote community cohesion in the UK Community cohesion can be used to overcome the problems of prejudice and discrimination in society. The British Government promotes community cohesion by: Financially supporting groups that work for community cohesion Making community cohesion part of the national curriculum Funding research into achieving community cohesion Appointing cabinet ministers from ethnic minorities Passing the Race Relations Act which makes it unlawful to discriminate against people on the basis of their race. Passing the Crime and Disorder Act that allows for greater penalties for acts of racially motivated hostility Passing the Race and Religious Hatred Act that makes it against the law to incite hatred on the grounds of race and religion Establishing the Equality and Human Rights Commission to ensure that equal rights are monitored in the UK. All three main political parties (the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour) oppose prejudice and discrimination in any form. Why community cohesion is important Without cooperation and respect, violence and unrest can occur within society It can lead to street rioting and this happened in Bradford in 2001 when community cohesion was not encouraged If it is upheld, it stops members of society becoming alienated and turning to extremism as the London Tube bombers did. In countries without community cohesion, violence becomes a way of life. Community cohesion is about avoiding the bad effects of intolerance, harassment and discrimination which can break down society.

42 Christianity, Judaism and Racial Harmony Why Christians should work to promote racial harmony The Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke illustrates to Christians that they ought to treat everyone with love and respect, regardless of whether they are a friend, enemy or stranger. Christians consequently believe that they have a duty to promote racial harmony. Jesus taught people to Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew). This means that Christians must show everyone respect, even their enemies. Jesus treated a Samaritan woman as his equal (John 4) and helped a Roman centurion s servant (Luke 7). Christians believe that they ought to follow the example of Jesus. St Peter was given a vision by God showing him that God treats all races the same. St Paul taught in Galatians that everyone is equal in Christ and so there should be no divisions of race among Christians. Almost 50% of the world s population is Christian and these people are from all different racial backgrounds and are accepted within Christianity. All Christian Churches have statements that condemn racism Why Jews should work to promote racial harmony Judaism does not regard any race as superior to another The Torah promotes racial harmony as it shows that all human beings regardless of race, can be traced back to Adam and Eve (Genesis). The Tenakh teaches Jews that God cares for oppressed peoples and wants to bring justice to the world. This means that Jews believe that they have a duty to stop racism. The Tenakh states that Jews have a special responsibility to ensure God s teachings and will are adhered to and this includes promoting racial harmony. There have been many attacks on Jews for thousands of years culminating in the Holocaust. This means that Jews regard racism in all of its form as completely evil.

43 The United Kingdom as a multi-faith society Many societies had only one faith living in them until the 20th Century. Britain however, has been a multi-faith society since the Reformation. Britain also has a long history of encouraging religious freedom: 1688 Non-conformists were given the freedom to worship 1828 Non-conformists were given the same political rights as members of the Church of England 1829 these rights were extended to Roman Catholics 1858 Jews were given the same political rights as members of the Church of Enlgand In the 20th Century, many people coming to the UK brought with them new religions, such as Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism. In many cases though, people who came to the UK were Christian. The 2001 census indicated that Britain has a lot of different religions represented, however, Christianity still forms the majority: Religion Population % of Population Christianity 42, 558, No religion 8, 197, Islam 1, 591, Hinduism 558, Sikhism 336, Judaism 267, Buddhism 149, Undisclosed 4, 823, Other 157, Benefits of living in a multi-faith society People can learn about other religions from their friends and neighbours and this can include learning what they have in common. People may practise their religion more seriously if others around them are doing so People are more likely to think about why people have religious faith and the different faiths in society. Religious tolerance and understanding is more likely People may consider viewpoints that they would have not come across before. Issues raised for religion in a multi-faith society Conversion: Some evangelical religions see it as their duty to convert people and this can cause friction within families and communities. It can be seen as a type of prejudice or discrimination. People claim that it is impossible to regard all other religions as wrong, unless you have studied them. Sometimes it can lead to arguments and violence. Bringing up children: Living in a multi-faith society requires that everyone has religious freedom. This means that children can choose to have a different faith from their parents, or no faith at all. Most religions encourage parents to bring up their children in their religion and that only followers of that religion have a good life after death. Children are often pressured by their parents as well as their surroundings to follow a particular religion, or in some cases, not to be religious at all. Interfaith marriages: Often there can be no religious ceremony for people if the couple are from different faiths. People sometimes question which religion the children will be brought up in and this is especially problematic if the parents insist that the child is brought up in one religious faith. Some families are left feeling that their roots have been betrayed and that funeral rites are going to be too difficult to manage.

44 Religions promoting Community Cohesion in the UK Different religions are working together to try to find the common ground between their religions. For Christians, Muslims and Jews, they share many of the same prophets and scriptures. Pope Benedict XVI confirmed this in 2006 in a meeting that he had with key Muslim figures. Some religious groups are developing ways of encouraging interfaith marriages. Many Protestant Churches and Reform Synagogues are doing this. The Mission of Public Affairs Division of the Archbishops Council of the Church of England encourages this. The website has also been set up. Bringing up the children has been discussed by people of different faiths and many religious leaders encourage children of interfaith marriages to be brought up in both religious traditions. All major religions represented in the UK have had leaders sign a document that states their commitment to teach different religious faiths in schools. They believe that teaching about different religions is a vital part of the curriculum and encourages students to develop a moral faculty. Many religious leaders encourage people in their communities to enjoy interfaith groups. The UK has the Inter Faith Network which was founded in Many individual places of worship work together with other places of worship in their area. Glasgow Forum of Faiths Declaration This is a declaration that states that faiths need to work together to find a common ground. They aim to bring together civic authorities and leaders to work together for mutual understanding.

45 How an issue of Religion and Community Cohesion is presented in the Media The Issue: The rights of women in Christianity Why the issue is important: The issue of women s rights within Christianity has been an extremely controversial one for a number of years. Officially, the Church of England and other Non-conformist Churches accept women have the right to become vicars and church leaders. Other Churches such as the Roman Catholic Church do not accept that women should be allowed to become leaders of the Church. Some sections of the Anglican Community in certain countries have broken away from the Anglican community in the UK because of their disapproval of allowing women to become leaders within the Church. It is therefore an extremely important issue because there are many different and often opposing viewpoints on the matter and different Christians have individual views on the matter. The issue has had an impact on the media, as it has been reported on a lot in the news. It also coincides with the wider debate on the rights of women in the UK, with some people saying that any opposition to women leading the Church should be seen as a form of sexism. The media may have decided to pick up on the issue of women in the Church and use it to create comedy, because comedy shows often pick up on controversial issues and reflect on the different viewpoints on these issues in a light-hearted way. Outline of how this issue is dealt with: In the Vicar of Dibley, the female vicar, Geraldine, is initially treated with suspicion and resistance by some prominent members of the congregation. One makes the point that the Gospels were written by men and that he did not want the parish turned into an experiment. The episode culminates in some members of the congregation writing to the Church of England synod to get them to provide a male vicar, however, it turns out that most people do not have a problem with a female vicar and so she stays as vicar of the Church and a member of the Parish Council. Treatment of Religious Belief: Religious belief is not really discussed heavily in this episode apart from references to the Gospels being written by men. This means that whilst this was a valid religious viewpoint that was portrayed, there was not really enough reference to religious belief to get a balanced set of views. There are many religious beliefs about the role of women within Christianity that were not mentioned, such as the principle of equality and the notion that all human beings have been made in the image of God. As well as the argument against about the Gospels being written by men, there is also the argument that St Paul stated that women should remain silent in Church. This was not mentioned in the episode. Treatment of Religious People: The treatment of Christians seemed fair in that both sides of the argument were represented, however, it did not really go into detail about their motivations, other than the social reasons behind them and it did make light of their views in a comedic way, which some religious people would think is unfair given that the issue is so important to them.